First, the family lost Pete’s mother, Elsie, who passed away in Lubbock last week. The family had gathered there for her final days.

Following a family service, Pete and Cassie headed back to Ruidoso on Saturday to catch a farewell show by Gleewood, the family band led by their son Jhett and his wife Callie. A crowd of a few hundred gathered in Alto to offer well-wishes for the couple as they head off to Europe for a seven-month music tour.

Then came Sunday’s fire.

Can’t Stop Smokin’, one of the most popular restaurants in New Mexico and known across the state by lovers of delicious barbecue, was destroyed by fire.

“Listen, don’t feel sorry for me,” Pete Schiavone said while watching from across the street as about 80 firefighters put out the flames. “I’m just blessed that everyone got out of the restaurant unharmed and there were no injuries. This is life.”

Schiavone said everything happened so quickly that, “it was surreal.”

From the time the fire was first spotted in the back of the restaurant to the time the dining room was fully engulfed in flames was within just a couple of minutes.

“The police and fire crews got here in a hurry,” Schiavone said. “I just want to thank all those firefighters, especially the volunteers, who came and helped keep that fire contained to the building. They did all that they could, and our family is extremely grateful to them for their efforts.”

Fire crews from Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Bonito, Glencoe, Hondo, Mescalero, and Nogal responded. Ruidoso Police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and the New Mexico State Police were also involved in traffic and crowd control. Keith Webber, operator of Rio Grande Grill next door, immediately whipped up sandwiches and burgers to feed the entire crew.

“We have been inundated with love and support from everyone, and I just want all these people to know how much we appreciate them,” Schiavone said.

And we all love and appreciate you back, Pete and Cassie Schiavone.

All the way back to the days when they owned and operated Frank’s Fruit Market, Pete and Cassie have been winners in the Ruidoso business community. They’ve given plenty to local charities, and raised their exceptional family up right here touching thousands of lives in the meantime.

They’ve always done family and business right in this community, and that’s why whatever they choose to do in the future, there will always be a crowd waiting in line to buy some.